According to U.S. Navy news, about 2:45 p.m. on October 26 local time, an MH-60R “Hawk” helicopter of the U.S. Navy, which belonged to the 73rd helicopter offshore strike squadron, crashed into the South China Sea while taking off from the aircraft carrier “Nimitz” while carrying out the mission. All three crew members were rescued.
At 3:15 p.m. local time, an F/A-18F “Supergirl Bear” fighter aircraft, which belonged to the 22nd Fighter Squadron, also crashed into the South China Sea while taking off from the Nimitz.
The US military said the cause of the two crashes is currently under investigation.